Subsurface well tool control apparatus



June 13, 1961 M. B. CONRAD SUBSURFACE WELL TOOL CONTROL APPARATUSOriginal Filed April 21, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR CONE/9D firroeA/Eysw M er/A/ B,

BY M W June 13, 1961 M. B. CONRAD SUBSURFACE WELL TOOL CONTROL APPARATUS2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 21, 1958 R m m v m Meemv B.CONE/ID United States Patent 20 Claims. (Cl. 166-237) The presentinvention relates to subsurface well bore equipment, and moreparticularly to control or clutch apparatus for determining theoperation of the equipment in the well bore.

The present application is a division of my application for RetrievableDouble Grip Well Packer, Serial No. 729,971, filed April 21, 1958.

An object of the invention is to provide a well tool adapted foroperation in a well bore and embodying an improved clutch or latchdevice for coupling parts of the tool together, or for permittingrelative movement between the parts when the clutch or latch device isreleased.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clutch or latch devicefor controlling relative longitudinal movement between parts of asubsurface well tool, the clutch device being adapted to secure theparts together for joint movement at a multiplicity of longitudinalpositions that the parts occupy with respect to each other.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clutch or latch devicefor selectively controlling relative longitudinal movement between partsof a subsurface well tool, and embodying a clutch element shiftablelaterally from its clutching position by a cam device which alsofunctions as a locator for positively positioning itself out ofengagement with the clutch element or in clutch releasing engagementtherewith.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a clutch or latchdevice for selectively controlling relative movement between parts of asubsurface well tool, which is relatively simple in construction,comparatively economical to manufacture, and which possesses a high loadcarrying capacity.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objectswhich may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a formin which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawingsaccompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will nowbe described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the generalprinciples of the invention; but it is to be understood that suchdetailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since thescope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a combined longitudinal section and side elevational view ofa portion of a well apparatus disposed in a well casing, with thecontrol apparatus in engaged relation;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through theapparatus with the control apparatus in uncoupled position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line 3--3 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along the line 4-4 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken along the line 5-5 on FIG. 1.

The control mechanism A is disclosed in the drawings as constitutingpart of a well packer or anchor, fully shown and described in theabove-identified parent case. Only the anchor portion of the apparatusis disclosed here- Patented June 13, 1961 ice - in, which is adapted tobe set against the well casing B as a result of downward movement of thecentral or main tubular body 10 of the apparatus with respect to theparts surrounding it. As described in the parent application, thetubular body is connectible to a tubular string (not shown), such astubing or drill pipe extending through the well casing to the top of thewell bore. It is through manipulation of this tubular string and thebody 10 of the tool that the control mechanism or clutch apparatus A isselectively placed in a clutching or an unclutching position.

The portion of the tool illustrated is adapted to anchor it againstdownward movement in the well casing. It includes a lower set ofcircumferentially spaced slips 21 having external wickers or teeth 22facing in a downward direction to resist downward movement of the toolin the well casing B when engaged therewith. The slips 21 are receivedin longitudinal slots 23 in a lower expander 24, the slips having innerexpander surfaces 25 tapering in a downward and inward direction andengaging companion tapered surfaces 26 in the lower expander and formingthe base portions of the slots 23. The slips 21 are slidably splined tothe lower expander 24, as by having opposed tongues 27 extendingoutwardly from the sides of each slip which are received withincompanion grooves 28 in the expander in the sides of each slot 23, thetongues 27 and grooves 28 being inclined in a downward and inwarddirection. Thus, downward movement of the lower expander 24 with respectto the lower slips 21, which will occur when the control mechanism A isreleased, and in response to downward movement of the body 10 of thetool, will expand the slips 21 outwardly into engagement .with the wellcasing B, whereas relative upward movement of the lower expander withrespect to the slips 21, in response to upward movement of the body 10of the tool, will cause the sides of the grooves 28 to engage thetongues 27 and pull the slips 21 inwardly to their initial retractedposition.

As explained in the above-identified parent application, the expander 24is movable longitudinally with the body 10 of the tool by parts (notshown) connected to the expander and body and surrounding the latter.Such parts are not essential to an understanding of the presentinvention.

The lower slips 21 are movable jointly in longitudinal directions byslidably coupling them to a slip ring portion 29 of the drag body 30 ofa drag device 31 which encircles the body 10 of the tool. The lowerportions of the slips 21 are constituted as heads 32 slidable in radialslots 33 in the slip ring portion 29, the heads having outwardlydirected tongues 34 slidably mounted in companion side grooves 35 in theslip ring portion 29. The lower slip tongues 34 and slip ring grooves 35are preferably inclined slightly in a downward and outward direction,which will facilitate movement of the slips 21 toward and fromengagement with the wall of the well casing B.

Movement of the slips 21 within the well casing is resisted by the dragdevice 31, which includes the aforementioned body 30, that hascircumferentially spaced longitudinal slots 36 therein, in whichradially movable drag blocks 37 are slidably received, these drag blocksbeing urged outwardly into frictional engagement with the wall of thewell casing B by helical compression springs 38 disposed in sockets 39in each drag block and engaging the base of the drag block body grooves36. Outward movement of the drag blocks 37 under the influence of thesprings 38, as when the tool is out of the well casing B, is limited byengagement of the upper and lower terminal portions 40 of each dragblock with an upper flange 41 depending from the slip ring portion 29and by the upper end 42 of a clutch housing 43 threadedly secured on thelower portion of the drag body 30, the lower portion of the clutchhousing 43 having an inwardly directed flange 44.

The slips 21 are expanded outwardly against the well casing B wheneverthe body or mandrel of the tool is permitted to lower relative to thedrag body 30, such lowering movement being transferred through portionsof the tool surrounding the body and above the lower expander (which aredisclosed in the aforesaid parent apphcation). The lowering movement ofthe body 10 relative to the drag body 30 and slips 21 is prevented bythe clutch or latch mechanism A, of which the clutch housing 43 forms apart.

The clutch mechanism includes a plurality of clutch or ratchet teeth 46formed on the periphery of the body or mandrel 10 of the tool, theseteeth facing in a downward direction and being engageable with companionupwardly facing clutch teeth 47 on a dog or clutch element 48 disposedin a radial slot 49 provided in a sleeve or ring 50 disposed within theclutch housing 43. The sleeve or ring 50 is prevented from turning withrespect to the clutch housing 43 and the drag body 30 by a longitudinalpin 51 extending into a bore 52 in the drag body and into an alignedbore 53 in the clutch sleeve 50.

The dog 48 is urged inwardly, so that its teeth 47 mesh with the bodyteeth 46, by a helical compression spring 54 hearing against the dog 48,with its outer end bearing against a finger or spring seat 55 that maybe integral with the clutch sleeve 50. When the dog 43 is engaged withthe body ratchet or clutch teeth 46, a space 56 exists be tween theouter end of the dog and the spring seat 55 to permit the dog to beshifted in a lateral outward direction to disengage the ratchet orclutch teeth 46, 47 from one another. Such disengagement occurs underthe action of a cam member in the form of a key 57 disposed in alongitudinal keyway 58 in the body 10', this key having an upper, outerportion 59 movable within an arcuate cavity or recess 60 in the clutchsleeve 50.

The mandrel or body 10 is adapted to turn the key 57 with it relative tothe clutch sleeve 50 and the clutch dog 48 between a position in whichthe outer key portion 59 engages one stop shoulder 61 at the end of thearcuate cavity 60, wherein the dog 48 can be shifted by the spring 54into engagement with the ratchet teeth 46, and a second position inwhich the key 57' will engage the tapered end 62 of the dog and cam thelatter outwardly to disengage its teeth 47 from the body teeth 46, thekey coming to rest against another stop shoulder 63 in the sleeve, atthe end of the arcuate recess or cavity 60, fully across the dog 48 tohold the latter out of clutching engagement with the body teeth 46. Asdisclosed in the drawings by way of example, the body or mandrel 10 mustrotate the key 57 about 270 degrees from its position of engagementagainst one stop 61 to its position of engagement against the other stop63. Thus, if the key engages one of the stops 61, so that the clutch dog48 can be coupled to the body 10 of the tool, then rotation of themandrel 10 within the drag device 31 and clutch housing sleeve 50 ofabout 270 degrees is required for the key 57 to engage and cam the dog48 out of its clutching relation to the body 10 of the tool, and to holdthe dog in such disengaged position. The body 10 of the tool is rotatedin a right-hand direction, to shift the dog 48 from clutching engagementwith the body teeth 46, and is rotated in a 1eft-hand direction toenable the dog to reengage the body clutch teeth. Such relative movementcan occur since the drag device 31 is resisting or preventing rotationof the clutch mechanism A surrounding the body 10 of the tool.

Although the dog 48 must be cammed by the key 57 out of clutchingengagement with the body 10 of the tool, in order to lower the body 10relative to the clutch member 43 surrounding it, the body 10 can beshifted upwardly relative to the clutch member 43, surrounding it merelyby taking an upward pull thereon, in view of the one-way or ratchetingaction of the body teeth 46 upon the companion teeth 47 of the clutchdog 48.

With the clutch dog 48 engaged, downward movement of the body 10 of thetool will carry the drag device 31 and the lower slips 21 downwardlywith it. Such downward movement is also transferred to the lowerexpander 24 through a segmental retaining or pulling sleeve 65 disposedwithin the slips 21, the lower end of the sleeve being movable within anannular space 66 between the body or mandrel 10 and the upper portion ofthe drag body 30, the lower part of the sleeve having an outwardlydirected flange 67 adapted to engage a downwardly facing shoulder 68 onthe slip portion 29 of the apparatus. The upper portion of the retainingsleeve 65 is disposed within the lower portion of the expander 24 havingan outwardly directed flange 69 disposed within an internal groove 70 inthe lower expander. It is evident that the downward movement of the dragbody 30 will exert a pull through the retaining sleeve 65 on the lowerexpander 24, pulling the latter downwardly with it.

In the absence of the retaining or pulling sleeve 65, the slips 21, whendisposed in their innermost position, would also exert a downward pullon the lower expander 24 through the inclined tongue 27 and groove 28interconnection.

In the use of the apparatus illustrated in the drawings, the parts willoriginally occupy the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in which thelower control mechanism and clutch A is engaged, the ratchet teeth 46 onthe body extending to a substantial extent above the clutch dog 48. Withthe clutch A engaged, downward movement between the body 10, theportions of the apparatus (not shown) above the expander 24, theexpander 24, and the lower slips 21 cannot occur, so that all of theparts are movable downwardly through the well casing B as a unit. Suchlowering movement continues until the location is reached in the wellcasing at which the tool is to be anchored therein. The tubular string(not shown) is turned to the right to release the clutch A, such turningmotion being transmitted through the body 10 connected thereto, whichrotates the key 57 into engagement with the dog 48, camming the latterradially outward from engagement with the clutch teeth 46 and holding itin such position, the parts then being in the relative conditionillustrated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5. The body 10 of the tool can now belowered, but in view of the release of the dog element 48 therefrom,such lowering action will not carry the outer clutch members surroundingthe body 10, drag device 31, slips 21, pulling sleeve 65, lower expander24, and the parts (not shown) thereabove downwardly with it. The dragdevice 31 resists downward movement of such outer parts, the body 10moving downwardly until it engages and shifts the parts (not shown)above the expander, shifting such parts downwardly, as well as theexpander 24 in a downward direction. Since the drag device 31 isresisting downward movement of the lower slips 21, downward movement ofthe lower expander 24 and the pulling sleeve 65 connected thereto willoccur within and with respect to the lower slips 21, urging the latterradially outward into anchoring engagement with the wall of the wellcasing B, as shown in FIG. 2. The apparatus is now anchored againstdownward movement in the well casing, the body 10 having been shifteddownwardly through the released clutch element or dog 48, with itsratchet teeth 46 still disposed on both sides of the dog 48.

In the event it is desired to release the apparatus from the well casingB, an upward pull is taken on the tubular string (not shown) and themandrel 10 of the tool, the mandrel moving upwardly without anyresistance from the clutch mechanism A, since the body ratchet teeth 46merely ratchet freely through the clutch dog 48 in an upward direction,even if the cam or key 57 is not in a position to retain the clutch dog48 out of clutching engagement with the body teeth 46. The

upward movement of the body occurs relative to the clutch mechanism Aand the slips 21 since the drag device 31 is resisting or preventingupward movement of such parts by frictionally engaging the wall of thewell casing. As the body 10 moves upwardly, it will engage the parts(not shown) above the expander 24, moving them upwardly and thenshifting the expander 24 upwardly relative to the slips 21, which willbe returned to their retracted position because of the inclined tongueand groove interconnection 27, 28. Upward movement of the lower expander24 relative to the drag device 31 can occur until the lower flange 67 ofthe pulling sleeve 65 again engages the shoulder 68 of the slip ringportion 29 of the drag device, whereupon the entire drag device 31 andclutch A is moved upwardly with the body 10 of the tool. The entireapparatus can be elevated in the well casing B and removed entirelytherefrom, if desired.

In the event the apparatus is to be lowered in the well casing B fromits prior setting point, the tubular string (not shown) and the body 10of the tool are rotated to the left, to be assured that the cam or key57 has been removed from the clutch dog 48 and has been placed again inengagement with the stop 61 at the end of the cavity 60. Such engagementof the key 57 with the stop 61 will cause the clutch A to be reengaged.Downward movement of the body 10 of the tool will now result in pullingof all of the mechanism surrounding the body, and which is in aretracted position, down the casing with it without effecting setting ofany of the parts. In the event the tool is again to be anchored to thewell casing at the new location, the tubing string (not shown) and body10 of the tool are again rotated to the right and within the drag device31 and the clutch mechanism A surrounding the body 10 of the tool andthe key 57, until the cam or key 57 again engages the stop shoulder 63,in which position the cam has shifted the clutch dog 48 outwardly todisengage its ratchet teeth 47 from the body ratchet 46 and to hold theclutch dog in such position. The body 10 of the tool can again belowered, sliding downwardly along the key 57, which fits in the elongategroove 58, in order to shift the expander 24 downwardly within the slips21 and force the latter radially outward into anchoring engagement withthe well casing B.

The clutch A can be engaged or released for a plurality of longitudinalpositions of the body 10 with respect to the dog 48. Rotation of thebody 10 and the key 57, to remove the latter from engagement with thedog 48, will cause the spring 54 to engage the ratchet teeth 47 of theclutch dog with the body ratchet teeth 46, coupling the body 10 to theouter clutch members, enabling all parts to be moved downwardlytogether. The clutch A can be released at any time merely by rotatingthe body 10 of the tool in the proper direction to reengage the key orcam 57 with the clutch dog 48 and shift it outwardly to an unclutchedposition, the key or cam 57 retaining the dog in such unclutchedposition, as positively determined by engagement of the key portion 59with the stop shoulder 63.

The clutch mechanism A is comparatively simple, possessing relativelyfew parts, and being capable of positively and selectively allowing theclutch to engage, or releasing the clutch to permit relativelongitudinal move. ment between the body and the parts surrounding it.

The inventor claims:

1. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the Wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; oneof said members having a plurality of clutch teeth extendinglongitudinally therealong; a clutch element movable laterally on theother of said members and having clutch teeth adapted to mesh with saidother clutch teeth to couple said members for longitudinal movementtogether;

and cam means slidable longitudinally on said one member and operable inresponse to relative movement between said members to engage the face ofsaid element confronting said one member and shift said clutch elementlaterally from clutching engagement with the teeth on said one member touncouple said members from each other.

2. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; oneof said members having a plurality of one-way ratchet teeth extendinglongitudinally therealong; a clutch dog movable generally radially onthe other of said members and having companion one-way ratchet teethadapted to mesh with said other ratchet teeth to couple said members forlongitudinal movement together; and cam means slidable longitudinally onsaid one member and operable in response to relative movement betweensaid members to engage and shift said clutch dog generally radially fromclutching engagement with the teeth on said one member to uncouple saidmembers from each other.

3. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; oneof said members having a plurality of clutch teeth extendinglongitudinally therealong; a clutch element movable laterally on theother of said members and having clutch teeth adapted to mesh with saidother clutch teeth to conple said members for longitudinal movementtogether; cam means slidable longitudinally on said one member andoperable in response to relative movement between said members to engagethe face of said element con.- fronting said one member and shift saidclutch element laterally from clutching engagement with the teeth onsaid one member to uncouple said members from each other; and locatingmeans for selectively positioning said cam means out of engagement withsaid clutch element or in engagement with said face of said clutchelement to hold said element from engagement with the teeth on said onemember.

4. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; oneof said members having a plurality of one-way ratchet teeth extendinglongitudinally therealong; a clutch dog movable generally radially onthe other of said members and having companion one-way ratchet teethadapted to mesh with said other ratchet teeth to couple said members forlongitudinal movement together; cam means slidable longitudinally onsaid one member and operable in response to relative movement betweensaid members to engage and shift said clutch dog generally radially fromclutching engagement with the teeth on said one member to uncouple saidmembers from each other; and locating means for selectively positioningsaid cam means out of engagement with said clutch dog or in engagementwith said clutch dog to hold said dog from engagement with the teeth onsaid one member.

5. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; oneof said members having a plurality of clutch teeth extendinglongitudinally therealong; a clutch element movable laterally on theother of said members and having clutch teeth adapted to mesh with saidother clutch teeth to couple said members for longitudinal movementtogether; and cam means on said one member operable in response torelative movement between said members to engage and shift said clutchelement laterally from clutching engagement with the teeth on said onememaeeeme bet to uncouple said. members from each other; said cam meansengaging said other member for selectively locating said cam means outof engagement with said clutch element or in engagement with the teethof said clutch element to hold said element from engagement with theteeth on said one member.

6. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; oneof said members having a plurality of one-way ratchet teeth extendinglongitudinally therealong; a clutch element movable laterally on theother of said members and having companion one-way ratchet teeth adaptedto mesh with said other ratchet teeth to couple said members forlongitudinal movement together; and cam means on said one memberoperable in response to relative movement between said members to engageand shift said clutch element laterally from clutching engagement withthe teeth on said one member to uncouple said members from each other;said cam means engaging said other member for selectively locating saidcam means out of engagement with said clutch element or in engagementwith the teeth of said clutch element to hold said element fromengagement with the teeth on said one member.

7. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; oneof said members having a plurality of clutch teeth extendinglongitudinally therealong; a clutch element movable laterally on theother of said members and having clutch teeth adapted to mesh with saidother clutch teeth to couple said members for longitudinal movementtogether; and cam means slidably keyed to said one member and rotatabletherewith relative to said clutch element upon relative rotation betweensaid members to engage and shift said clutch element laterally fromclutching engagement with the teeth on said one member to uncouple saidmembers from each other.

8. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; oneof said members having a plurality of clutch teeth extendinglongitudinally therealong; a clutch element movable laterally on theother of said members and having clutch teeth adapted to mesh with saidother clutch teeth to couple said members for longitudinal movementtogether; one of said members having a longitudinal groove; and a keyslidable relatively in said groove and rotatable with said one memberrelative to said clutch element upon relative rotation between saidmembers to engage and shift said clutch element laterally from clutchingengagement with the teeth on said one member to uncouple said membersfrom each other.

9. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a 'body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; oneof said members having a plurality of clutch teeth extendinglongitudinally therealong; a clutch element movable laterally on theother of said members and having clutch teeth adapted to mesh with saidother clutch teeth to couple said members for longitudinal movementtogether; one of said members having a longitudinal groove; a keyslidable relatively in said groove and rotatable with said one memberrelative to said clutch element upon relative rotation between saidmembers to engage and shift said clutch element laterally from clutchingengagement with the teeth on said one member to uncouple said membersfrom each other; and means on said other member engageable by said keyfor selectively locating said key out of engagement with said clutchelement or in engagement with said clutch element to hold said elementfrom engagement with the teeth on said one member.

1.0. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; oneof said members having a plurality of one-way ratchet teeth extendinglongitudinally therealong; a clutch dog movable generally radially onthe other of said members and having companion one-way ratchet teethadapted to mesh with said other ratchet teeth to couple said members forlongitudinal movement together; one of said members having alongitudinal groove; a key slidable relatively in said groove androtatable with said one member relative to said clutch dog upon relativerotation between said members to engage and shift said clutch doggenerally radially from clutching engagement with the teeth on said onemember to uncouple said members from each other; and means on said othermember engageable by said key for selectively locating said key out ofengagement with said clutch dog or in engagement with said clutch dog tohold said dog from engagement with the teeth on said one member.

11. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; oneof said members having a longitudinal groove; a clutch element movablelaterally on the other of said members into and out of clutchingengagement with said one member to couple said members for longitudinalmovement together; and a key slidable relatively in said groove androtatable with said one member relative to said clutch element uponrelative rotation between said members to engage and be disposed betweensaid clutch element and said one member to shift said clutch elementlaterally from clutching engagement with said one member and to holdsaid clutch element from clutching engagement with said one member.

12. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; oneof said members having a longitudinal groove; a clutch element movablelaterally on the other of said members into and out of clutchingengagement with said one member to couple said members for longitudinalmovement together; a key slidable relatively in said groove andresponsive to relative rotation between said members to engage and bedisposed between the face of said clutch element confronting said onemember and said one member to shift said clutch element laterally fromclutching engagement with said one member and to hold said clutchelement from clutching engagement with said one member; and means onsaid other member engageable by said key for selectively locating saidkey out of engagement with said clutch element or in engagement withsaid clutch element to hold said element from clutching engagement withsaid one member.

13. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in stning for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; saidbody member having a plurality of clutch teeth extending longitudinallytherealong; a clutch element movable laterally on said clutch member andhaving clutch teeth adapted to mesh with said other clutch teeth tocouple said members for longitudinal movement together; and cam meansslidable longitudinally on said body member and rotatable with said bodymember relative to said clutch element upon relative movement betweensaid members to engage and shift said clutch element laterally fromclutching engagement with the teeth on said body member to uncouple saidmembers from each other.

14. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; saidbody member having a plurality of one-way ratchet clutch teeth extendinglongitudinally therealong; a clutch dog movable generally radially onsaid clutch member and having one-way ratchet teeth companion to andadapted to mesh with said other clutch teeth to couple said members forlongitudinal movement together; and cam means slidable longitudinally onsaid body member and rotatable with said body member relative to saiddog upon relative rotation between said members to engage and shift saidclutch dog generally radially from clutching engagement with the teethon said body member to uncouple said members from each other. H

15. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; saidbody member having a plurality of clutch teeth extending longitudinallytherealong; a clutch element movable laterally on said clutch member andhaving clutch teeth adapted to mesh with said other clutch teeth tocouple said members for longitudinal movement together; cam meansslidable longitudinally on said body member and operable in response torelative movement between said members to engage the face of saidelement confronting said body member and shift said clutch elementlaterally from clutching engagement with the teeth on said body memberto uncouple said members from each other; and locating means forselectively positioning said cam means out of engagement with saidclutch element or in engagement with said face of said clutch element tohold said element from engagement with the teeth on said body member.

16. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; saidbody member having a plurality of one-way ratchet clutch teeth extendinglongitudinally therealong; a clutch dog movable generally radially onsaid clutch member and having one-way ratchet teeth companion to andadapted to mesh with said other clutch teeth to couple said members forlongitudinal movement together; cam means slidable longitudinally onsaid body member and rotatable with said body member relative to saiddog upon relative rotation between said members to engage the face ofsaid dog confronting said body member and shifit said clutch doggenerally radially from clutching engagement with the teeth on said bodymember to uncouple said members from each other; and locating means forselectively positioning said cam means out of engagement with saidclutch dog or in engagement with said face of said clutch dog to holdsaid dog from engagement with the teeth on said body member.

17. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a runningin string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; saidbody member having a plurality of one-way ratchet clutch teeth extendinglongitudinally therealong; a clutch dog movable generally radially onsaid clutch member and having one-way ratchet teeth companion to andadapted to mesh with said other clutch teeth to couple said members forlongitudinal movement together; and cam means on said body memberrotatable with said body member relative to said dog upon relativerotation between said members to engage the face of said 10 dogconironting said body member and shift said clutch dog generallyradially from clutching engagement with the teeth on said body member touncouple said members from each other; said cam means engaging saidclutch member for selectively locating said cam means out of engagementwith said clutch dog or in engagement with said face of said clutch dogto hold said dog from engagement with the teeth on said body member.

18. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; saidbody member having a plurality of clutch teeth extending longitudinallytherealong; a clutch element movable laterally on said clutch member andhaving clutch teeth adapted to mesh with said other clutch teeth tocouple said members for longitudinal movement together; and cam meansslidably keyed to said body member and rotatable therewith relative tosaid clutch element upon relative rotation between said members toengage and shift said clutch element laterally from clutching engagementwith the teeth on said body member to uncouple said members from eachother.

19. In a Well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool Within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; saidbody member having a plurality of clutch teeth extend ing longitudinallytherealong; a clutch element movable laterally on said clutch member andhaving clutch teeth adapted to mesh with said other clutch teeth tocouple said members for longitudinal movement together; said body memberhaving a longitudinal groove; and a key slidable relatively in saidgroove and rotatable with said body member relative to said clutchelement upon relative rotation between said members to engage and shiftsaid clutch element laterally from clutching engagement with the teethon said body member to uncouple said members from each other.

20. In a well tool adapted for operation in a well bore: a body memberconnectible to a running-in string for moving the tool within the wellbore; a clutch member slidable longitudinally on said body member; saidbody member having a plurality of clutch teeth extending longitudinallytherealong; a clutch element movable laterally on said clutch member andhaving clutch teeth adapted to mesh with said other clutch teeth tocouple said members for longitudinal movement together; said body memberhaving -a longitudinal groove; a key slidable relatively in said grooveand rotatable with said body member relative to said clutch element uponrelative rotation between said members to engage and shifit said clutchelement laterally from clutching engagement with the teeth on said bodymember to uncouple said members from each other; and means on saidclutch member engageab-le by said key for selectively locating said keyout of engagement with said clutch element to hold said element fromengagement with the teeth on said body member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,368,401 Baker Ian. 30, 1945 2,633,917 Baker Apr. 7, 1953 2,778,430Baker Jan. 22, 1957 2,802,534 Conrad Aug. 13, 1957 2,849,069 Baker u.--Apr. 26, 1958

